Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Tracking Change: e-Merging Methods and Markers—EAC Conference 2014

Eager participants at the National EAC 2014 conference

I recently
participated in the Editors Association of Canada (EAC) National Conference at
the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto.

Entitled
Tracking Change: e-Merging Methods and Markers,
the conference focused on “the shifts we are seeing in editing, publishing,
language, technology, business and culture,” wrote 2014 conference co-chairs
Emily Dockrill Jones and Nancy Foran. The conference featured over forty
professional development sessions in an ambitious and often dizzying five-track
program.

Nina at the Exclamation Mart!

Beginning
with a keynote address by Douglas Gibson, publisher of McClelland & Stewart,
and

National EAC table with resources

ending with a keynote by author Terry Fallis, the conference offered
sessions in business and career, editing and revisions, editorial niches,
language and culture, and tools & technology.

The importance
of the Internet and Social Networking in emerging opportunities of a changing
publishing paradigm was evident in the topics covered. Some session titles
included: “How to Leverage Linkedin to Showcase Your Editorial Expertise”; “An
Introduction to Search Engine Optimization”; “Brave New World: e-Reading,
e-Editing, and e-Publishing”; “e-Merging in Social Media to Win Clients”; and “Digital
Publishing Opens Up New Opportunities for Pro Editors”.

Merridy Cox Bradley

I found
the session with Tammy Burns entitled “How to Edit a Blog (and When and Why You
Should) particularly interesting and relevant. Burns, a writer and editor for
the Travel + Escape television network, shared that blogs now rank alongside
major online publications. The web log “diary” has matured into an information
vehicle for newspapers, magazines and e-zines that rely on them to increase
their online reader engagement. Companies use blogs to demonstrate expertise
and build brand loyalty. Writers and editors use their blogs as online
portfolios.

cool editor's bling

In
many cases, blogs have replaced websites with a more dynamic, interactive and
user-friendly interface and gateway to accessible communication. I teach a workshop
in Toronto on just this subject and find it always well-attended.

I
also shared a table at the Exclamation Mart! vender fair (conveniently located
right beside the free coffee and snack buffet) with editor/author Merridy Cox
Bradley and the Indexers Society of Canada. I had several of my fiction books
for sale as well as writing guidebooks useful for editors as resources. Thank
you all for your interest in my books and particularly serial entrepreneur Carolyn
Burke (panelist for “Earn More by Working for Free) who—at the very last minute
of the con—purchased my entire Splintered Universe Trilogy. Hope you enjoy the ride, Carolyn! Thanks,
everyone!

OMG! Which one do I choose?...

Resources for Editors Working with Writers
Who Are Self-Publishing

A
growing number of authors are not only opting for self-publishing, either using
a publishing service with assisted package at cost (e.g., XLibris, iUniverse, Lulu or Friesen) or a printer/distributor like Lightning Source. Either way, writers choosing to self-publish are
finally getting the message that in order to sell their creative work, they
need to apply more than good promotion; their work must look and be
professional. This means getting professional assistance with book design
(e.g., cover and interior design), and with story content (e.g., an editor and
sometimes a writing coach). Sometimes an editor need not refer a client to a
writing coach; instead, they can refer them to several good resources.

I sold
copies of my educational resources to editors working with self-publishing
authors, the fastest growing market of clients for the professional freelance
editor:

·

The Fiction Writer: Get Published, Write
Now! (Starfire World Syndicate,
2009): this guidebook on fiction and non-fiction writing focuses on the major
aspects of the craft of writing. Used by creative writing instructors of high
schools through to universities in the USA, Canada and abroad, as well as by
professional writers, The Fiction Writer provides an
excellent reference for authors working with editors on their own project. It’s
written in a conversational style that makes it easy to read and learn. Available
on Amazon and a quality bookstore near you.

The Journal Writer: Finding Your Voice
(Pixl Press, 2012): this guidebookprovides advice on all aspects of expressive writing from journaling to memoir,
and includes instruction on the use of blogs and major social networks. It is available on Amazon and a quality bookstore near you.

The Writer’s Toolkit (Starfire/Lighthouse Media Group, 2010):
this 3-DVD set of educational lectures on 1) how to get started…and finish, 2)
craft, and 3) marketing and promotion covers all major areas for a writer to
successfully publish. Used in libraries and schools, the DVDs are an excellent
resource for authors just starting on a project. Available on
www.ninamunteanu.me.

Editors
who missed out can still purchase the two guidebooks on Amazon. The DVD set is
available for purchase through my website www.ninamunteanu.me.

Nina Munteanu is an
ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and
essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the
University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

About Nina

I'm The Alien Next Door. I'm an ecologist and a published author of several novels, articles and reviews. I teach writing at George Brown College and UofT. I also coach writers. For more on writing (articles and advice) and more information about my coaching, visit me at Nina Munteanu Writing Coach. Visit Nina Munteanu Writer for more about my own writing. My new site The Meaning of Water is devoted to our precious water and brings my interest as an ecologist and limnologist to help understand the meaning and importance of this precious and mysterious element. Inside, you'll find articles that explore what water is and its meaning to this planet and to us as a species and life form.